Molybdenite is a soft grey mineral consisting of molybdenum sulphide in hexagonal crystalline form with rhenium as an impurity: the main source of molybdenum and rhenium. Formula: MoS2.

Molybdenite is presented the scaly tablets of hexagonal outlines. Scales are often bent or twisted up and does not have the clear expressed crystalline outlines. A mineral is opaque, a color is leaden-grey bluish, with metallic off-gloss; it is heavy, often fat by touch, possesses perfect cleavage on plate tablet lamellar. In thin plates flexible, but not elastic.

On a hexagonal form and very low hardness of Molybdenite it is possible to entangle with a graphite. A grey, pounded line acquires a spring onions-green color (the line of graphite remains grey). Distinguishing them is possible on a line on a paper or on the porous unglazed porcelain; a graphite gives a black-grey gray line, and Molybdenite - greenish-grey gray. Not melt fuse. A behavior is in acids. Hardly decomposes in the concentrated sulphuric acid at the slow boiling.

Origin provenance genesis.

Enough ordinary and widespread mineral; be found mainly in high temperature hydrothermal vein, lode, mines. Associated with the minerals of tin, copper and tungsten. Often be found in granites and pegmatites.

Deposit minefield mine field occurrence subsoil.

In Italy Molybdenite obtain in many places. Good standards take a place from Arendalya in Norway, Azegura in Morocco, state Queensland in Australia and, mainly, from the districts of Temiskaming and Oldfil'd-Taunship in a province Quebec (Canada). The deposit of Klaymaks in the state of Colorado (USA) is developed by an industrial method.